WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT on August 19, 2017 to 08:00 GMT on August 20, 2017.

The Tal Afar operation

Iraqi Prime Minister has announced the launch of a ground operation to liberate the northern city of Tal Afar from Daesh terrorists.

In a televised address, Haider al-Abadi warned the Takfiris that they would get killed if they refuse to surrender. He also saluted all forces including army, police, anti-terrorism forces and popular mobilization units that are to take part in the operation. Meanwhile thousands of Iraqi people are fleeing to the country’s Kurdish region. An NGO said that the refugees near Tal Afar were faced with harsh conditions in east of Mosul and Kurdish areas. Tal Afar which is located west of Mosul is one of the last areas in Iraq held by Daesh terrorists. 

Anti-racism rally in US

Thousands of counter demonstrators marched Saturday in downtown Boston in a largely peaceful response to a self-described free speech rally that had sparked concerns of possible violence.

Police say at least 27 protesters have been arrested. The demonstrators chanted slogans against racism and bigotry and condemned a small rally held in the city by far-right groups to defend what they called citizens’ right to free speech. Officials called on both sides to maintain peace and respect public order. The developments came a week after violent confrontations between white supremacists and counter-protesters in the city of Charlottesville in the state of Virginia during which one woman was killed and several people were injured.

Bangladesh returns Rohingya Muslims

Bangladesh coastguards have turned back a boat carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees escaping renewed violence in their homeland in neighboring Myanmar. 

A coastguard patrol found the boat on the Naf River with more than thirty people, including women and children on board. It was trying to enter Bangladesh’s southeastern district of Cox Bazar and was carrying two injured people. At least 500 Rohingya fled their villages in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to take refuge in camps across the border in recent months. Large-scale violence by Buddhist extremists and the Myanmar army against the minority has claimed hundreds of lives and forced tens of thousands to flee across the border since 2012. The United Nations says the violence may amount to ethnic cleansing. 

Rejecting racism in US

Security forces have been deployed outside City Hall Plaza, where protesters gathered to slam growing white supremacist sentiments. The developments came a week after violent confrontations between white supremacists and counter-protesters in the city of Charlottesville in the state of Virginia during which one woman was killed and several people were injured.

Lula's presidential campaign 

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva has launched an early campaign in hope of taking the country’s top office in 2018.

Lula is on a bus tour to visit some 20 cities across the country. As his first destination, the corruption-stricken former president visited the slums of Bahia state, where he was received warmly. Lula addressed a crowd of supporting farmers there. The presidential election won't take place until October 2018 and the many potential candidates are still not known to people.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk